Method of measuring fluid flow



lea-@511 FIPRQIi Filed Jan. 17, 1941 I; .12.? 5L4 Ftiiiiruk L..." 1.}

" OIL SAND on. SAND INVENTOR L.L. Mc WILLIAMS J12? ATTORN Y TES ATENT orrice METHOD OF MEASURIiNG FLUID FLOW Lawrence L. Mcwilliams, Bartlesville, Okla, assigner to Phillips Fetroieum Company, a corporation of Delaware Application This invention relates to the measurement of fluid flow and more particularly to a method of measuring the amount of fluid that is flowing mon practice in the production of hydrocarbon fluids to apply water-flood methods of secondary recovery to the reservoir after it has been depleted of its natural energy. The water introduced into a hydrocarbon oil reservoir more thor oughly-cleanses the sand grains of their oil and moves the oil toward the producing hydrocarbon oil wells. At the present time, surface waters and Waters produced to the surface of the ground are usually employed for water flood operations. However, waters that are cased off and sealed from the hydrocarbon oil formation may be used for water flood purposes if some method of races uring the amount of water that would flow into the hydrocarbon oil-formationcould be obtained.

- tubular member I3- is suspended below a surface January 17,1941, Serial No. 374,943 2 Claims. 'ma-srr 73-l5f larly to Figure 1 thereof, 1'. have denoted an oil well casing ill with perforations H opposite a water-bearing sand l2. Within this casing, a

closure I4 and extends downwardly to an oilbearing formation i5. Mounted concentrically on tubin J3 is a packer it which seals the annular space I! below the perforations II. A plurality of perforations l8 are provided in a working barrel l9 and are located at any desirable point above water formation i2,'depending upon the hydrostatic head of water in this formation. A removable cylindrical plug 20, which is smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of worki'he water introduced into a, hydrocarbon oil formation should be measured, as it is desirable for the operator to know at all times the conditions which afiect the water-flood operation. If the water introduced is beyond control of the operator, the results would be reduced benefits and possibly great injury to the hydrocarbon oil wells.

My present invention provides a method of measuring water which may be injected from an upper water-bearing strata into a lower hydrocarbon oil-bearing strata through the same well bore; thus, allowing the operator to control the water-flood 01 the hydrocarbon oil-bearing formation.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a method of'measuringthe amount of fluid flowing through various types of passages, including well bores, oil well tubing, and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a method of measuring fluid flow in substantially vertical conduits by measuring a difierentlal in force, caused by a loss of fluid head occasioned by fluid flowing past a restriction in a conduit.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art by refering barrel I9, is suspended within the working barrel by a cable 2|. The peripheral surface of the plug and the internal surface of the working barrel constitute an orifice through which water flows from the water-bearing sand to the oil-bearing sand. e cable 2| extends upwardly from plug 20 throgh a stufling box '22 which is employed to prevet foreign matter from entering the tubing. e upper end of the cable is attached to indlcat equipment 23 which consists essentially of a i well known type of weight measuring device an recording instrument. In operation, packe i5 is assembled and run on tubing l8 to a .poi t below the perforations H. The working barrel IQ of predetermined inside diameter and having perforations i8 is part or the tubing assembly which is suspended from closure l8. Water flowing into annular space i'i rises in casing i0, depending upon the fluid head of the water-bearing strata 5:. Plug 29 is secured to cable 2! and run inside of the tubing to a point directly above perforations 58. At this place, a reading on weight indicator 23 signifies the force that the removable plug exerts on the wire line and takes'in'to account the buoyant effect or the water on the plug. The plug is next lowered into working barrel ill to a point just below perforations i8, and another reading is taken on indicator 23. This second reading verted to suitable units for calculating the vol-' Referring to the drawing, and more particuume of liquid flowing through the orifice by the accepted basic formula. The efllciency of the oriflce, which is essential to accurate calculation, may be determined by actual test at the surface of the ground. 'From the calculations, a. set of tables may be compiled to convert weight, as indicated on weight indicator 23, into volume of water flowing into the hydrocarbon oil formation, or the weight indicator may be calibrated to read directly in barrels perday or any other suitable units.

Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment ofmy invention wherein parts common to both embodiments are designated by the same numerals. In the construction of this type apparatus, a hollo body 24- is constructed sufilgiently hea 0 overthe friction of cups 25 which Bear again come the in ma walls of workin barre 1 mg I e i ow o ater into body 24 and once... throuifi an eggs 3 The operation of this embodiment is identical to the operation of my first described embodiment, and the device is suspended within working barrel 1! in the same manner as heretofore described.

While I have described my invention with respect to its use in the measurement of the flow of water through tubing, it is to be understood that other fluids may be measured thereby. Its other uses include the measurement of the flow of fluids in the usual surface and subsurface conthe ground.

the art. It is to be clearly understood. however, that various changes in the method of practicing, the invention, outlined above, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a method of measuring the volume of fluid transmitted from a fluid-bearing formation into a second formation through a well here that communicates with both formations and that v ter flowing from an upper water-bearing formation into a lower hydrocarbon-bearing formation through a well bore that extends through the upper formation and into the lower formation and that has a conduit suspended therein, the steps comprising establishing communication between the interior of the conduit and the waterbearing formation, providing aseal between the outer surface'of the conduit and the well bore .at a point intermediate the formations, restricting the downward flow of water through the conduit, and simultaneously ascertaining the resulting drop in fluid pressure at the surface of LAWRENCE L. Mcwnmaris. 

